CA1073160A - Fabric treating composition - Google Patents

Abstract

FABRIC TREATING COMPOSITION

Thomas A. DesMarais ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

Fabric treating compositions comprising a fabric softener and a highly substituted methyl cellulose derivative confer softness and soil release properties to fabrics.

Description

BAC~CG~ROUND OF _THE_ INVENTIOM
This invention relates to fabric treating compo-sitions and to a method for simultaneously softening and imparting soil release properties to textile materials.
More specifically, the compositions herein comprise mixtures of a fabric softener such as the common cationic ammonium softeners, and specific, highly su~stituted methyl cellulose soil release agents.
It is common practice to soften fiabrics during the rinse cycle of a laundering operation. Fabric "sotness"
is an expression well-defined in the art and is usually understood to be that quality of the treated fabric whereby its handle or texture is smooth, pliable and fluffy to the touch. Various chemical compounds have long been known to possess the ability to soften fabrics during a laundering operation.
The use of various surface modifying or coating agents to improve the cleaning properties of fabrics is also ' ~ . : : ' !, ' .: ,. . ~.
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a well known techni~ue. Much ef~ort has been expended in d~signing various compounds capable of confexring soil releasa properties to fabrics, especially those woven from polyester fibers. The hydrophobic character of polyester ~hrics makes their laundering (pa:rticularly as regards oily soil and oily stains) difficult, principally due to the low wettability of the polyester :Eibers.
Since the inherent character of the ~iber itself is hydro-phobic, or oleophilic, once an oily soil or oily stain is deposited on the fabric it tends to be "attached" to the surface of the fiber. As a result, the oily soil or stain i9 difficult to remove in an aqueous laundering process.
When hydrophilic fabrics such as cotton are soiled by oily stains or oily soil, it is well-recognized that the oil is much more easil~ removed than in the case of hydrop~obic polyester fabricsO This difference in oil removal characteristics is apparently ~aused by the greater affinity of cotton fabrics for water. Differences in hydrophilic/hydrophobic characteristics of cotton and polyester are due in part to the basic building blocks of the fibers themselves. That is, since polyester fibers are usually polymers o terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol~ they have less affinity for water because there are fewer free hydrophilic groups, e.g., hydroxyl or carboxyl groups~ where hydrogen bonding can occur. -With cotton, which is a cellulosic material, the large number of hydrophilic groups provides compatibility with, and affinity for, water.

- 2 - .

1073~0 From a detergency standpoint, the most important difference between hydrophobic fabrics and hydrophilic ~brics is the tendency for oily soil to form easily removable droplets when present on a hydrophilic fabric and in contact with water. The mechanical a~tion o~
washing and the action of synthetic detergents and builder~
normally used in the washing step of the laundering process removes such oil droplets from the fabrics. The droplet formation is in contrast to the situation which exists with polyester (hydrophobic3 fi~ers. Water does not "wick"
through hydrophobic fabrics and the oily soil or stain tends to be retained throughout the fabric, both because of the inherent hydrophobic character of the fabric and the lack of affinity of oily soil for water. Since all fabrics, and especially polyester and polyester-blend fabrics te.g., polyester-cotton blends) are susceptible to oily staining and, once stained, are dificult to clean in an aqueous laundry bath, manufacturers of such fibers ~`
and fabrics have sought to increase their hydrophilic character to provide ease oE laundering.
A truly superior fabric treating agent should provide a soft, desirable hand to the fabric, as well as a soil release finish. Moreover, an optimal fabric treating agent should also provide anti-static benefits. To many us~rs, "softness" connotes the absence of static cling in the fabrics. Indeed, with fabrics such as nylon and polyester, many users appreciate an anti-static bene~it at least as much as a softening benefit.

_ 3 _ As ~i~ht be expected, a wide variety of materials have been suggested for use as fabric and textile condi-tioning agents to provide one or more of the ~oregoing ~enefits. In many instances, such ~ompositions are S designed for use in processes carried out by the fiber or textile manufacturer: see ~etherlands Application 65/09456;
see also Garrett and Hartley, J. S c. D~ers and Colourists, 82, 7, 252-7 tl967) and ~ , 44, 42-43 (October 17, 1966). These references, as well as British ~-Patents 1,08~,984 and 1,092,453, teach various ester-~asecl soil release agents.
` U.S. Patents 3,668,000: 3,435,027: 2,663,989;
2,994,665: 3,523,088: South African Patent 71/5149; British Patents 1,171,877 and 1,045,197: the "CE~LULOSE GUM CATALOG", Hercules Powder Company: and the "METHOCEL PRODUCT INPOR- :.
MATION" data sheets, Dow ehemical Company, 1966, disclose the use of a wide variety of cellulose derivatives as fabric finishes.
U~S. Patent 3,712,873 discloses textile treating compositions comprising a quaternary ammonium softening compound and various cellulose and/or modified starch derivatives in combination with a variety of adjunct materials.
sritish Patent No. 1,498,520 of DesMarais, sealed May 17, 1978, relates to detergent compositions 1~73~16~

containing highly su~stituted methyl cellulose derivatives of the type employed herein.
It i~ an object of t~e prese~t invent:ion to provide ~om~ined softening/soil release compositions which impart superior soil release benefits, especially to polyester fabrics.
It is another object herein to provide compositions for s~multaneously ~mparting softness, anti-static benefits and soil release properties $o fabrics in a one-step, home laundry rinse bath.
The foregoing o~jects ~re obtained by combining a fabric softening/anti-static agent and a methyl cellulose 80il release agent having a high desree of substitution (DS) in compositions of the type disclosed hereinafter.

SU~AF~y~ OF TH:E ~;NV'ENTION
, . . . . ..
The present in~ention encompasses ~abric treating r compositions comprising (~a~ from about 1 to about 50~ by wei~ht of a combined fabric softening and anti-static agent; ~b~
from about 0.05 to about 10% by weight of a methyl cellulose ether having a DS methyl of at least about 2.1, a weight average degree of polymerization of greater than about 100, a solution viscosity above about 20 centipoise and a gel point less th~n about 50C; and (c) the balance of the composition comprising a water-dispersible carrier, especially liquid carriers such as water or water-alcohol mixtures.
DE TAI LE D DE S CRI P TI ON OF TH E I NVE NT ION
The ~abric softener employed in the present invention comprises any of the cationic (including imidazolinium) r~ ~ S
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-compounds listed in U.S. Patent 3,686,025 of David R. Morton, granted August 22, 1972. Such materials are well-known in the art and include, ~or exam~le, the quaternary ammonium salts having.at least one, preferably two, C10-C2~ ~atty alkyl 5su~tituent sroups; alkyl imidazolinium salt:s wherein at l~ast one alkyl group contains a C8-C25 carbon "chai~"; the C12-C20 alkyl pyridinium salts, and the like~
Preferred softeners herein include the cationic quaternary ammonium salts of the general formula 10RlR2R3R4N+,X , wher~in groups R , R2, R and R are, for example, alkyl and X is an anion, e.g., halide, methyl-sulfate, and the liXe. Especially preferred softeners herein are those wherein Rl and R2 are each C~-C20 atty alkyl and R3 a~d R4 are each Cl-C3 alkyl (or mixtures). The fatty alkyl groups can be mixed, i.e., the mîxed C14-C18 coconut-alkyl and mixed C16-C18 tallowalkyl quaternary compounds. :~
Alkyl groups R3 and R4 are prefera~ly methyl. Useful quaternary ammoni~m compounds herein are set forth in detail in UOS. Patent 3,686,025.
Particularly useful quaternary ammonium softeners herein include ditallowalky}dimethylammonium chloride and dicoconutalkyldimethylammonium chloride.

Soil Release Aqent The soil release fabric finishing agents employed 25in the insta~t compositions are the methyl ethers of cellulose having a high degree of methyl substitution (DS). :~
More specifically, the high DS methyl cellulose ethers herein can be characterized as cellulose having at least 2.1, . , ~ 6 ,i ~
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preferably from about 2.1 to about 2.8, methyl groups, R', on the hydroxyls of the anhydroglucose units of cellulose, i.e., a DS of from 2.1 to 2.8. It has now been discovered that these high DS methyl cellulose derivatives exhibit heretofore unrecognized advantages as c~ily soil release fabric finishes and are far superior to the lower DS methyl and the various hydroxyalkyl cellulosics known i~ the art.
me basic structure of the cellulose methyl ethers herein is as follows, wherein group R' is methyl. I~ the 10 . formula the integer, n, typically averages from about 100 to about 10, 000.

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~L~73:~60 When preparing the methyl cellulose lether soil release agents employed in the present compositions the hydroxyl gro~ps of the anh~droglucose units of cellulose are reacted with a ~ethylating agent, thexeby replacing the hydrogen of S the hydroxyls with methyl. The num~er of substituent methyl graups can be designated b~ weight percent, or by the average number of methyl (i.e., as methoxyl) groups on the anhydroglucose units, i.e., the DS~ If all three available po~itions on ea~h anhydroglucose unit are substituted, the DS
10 ~ is designated three (3); if an average of two -OH's are substituted, the DS is designated two (2), etc.
Commercial processes for preparing meth~l cellulose ethers involve, for example, simply combining methyl chloride with a cellulose feed stock of the type disclosed hereinafter under alkaline conditions. (It is to be understood that the methyl halides used to prepare the high DS methyl celluloses herein can contain minor amounts of other alkyl halides.
The resulting cellulose ethers may, of course, contain very minor proportions of the corresponding alkyl groups. This is not important to the invention herein.) Such a process results in a DS below, 2, and most generally a DS of about 1~5. The prior art materials taught for use as fabric finishes are those having a low DS, i.e., a DS below 2, and usually below about 1.5. These lower DS materials are apparently specified for use as fabric finishes inasmuch as they are commercially available and have what was heretofore thought to be the requisite high water solubility necessary for sorption on fabric surfaces.

i~7316~ ' In contrast with the prior art teachings regarding the cellulosic fabric finishes, the soil release agents for use herein have a degree of methyl subst:itution in the ~ange o~ from about 2~1 to about 2.8, preferably from about 2.2 to about~2~ most preferably from about: 2.3 to abo' 2.6.
Of course, the theoretical ns limit i.s 3.0, inasmuch as there are a maximum of 3 hydroxyl groups on each anhydro- -glucose unit in cellulose. Surprisingly, the high DS
methyl cellulose ethers herein are suf~iciently water soluble to provide good soil release fabric finishes when applied from an aqueous bath. Moreover, the high DS, methyl cellulose ethers exhibit their superior oily soil relcase properties when applied to fabrics from an aqueous rin~e bath containing the above-disclosed softening agents.
The high DS methyl cellulose ethers herein can be prepared by the exhaustive methylation of cellulose using a methyl halide, preferably methyl chloride, and caustic, preferably sodium hydroxide, in a pressure vessel in the manner well-known in the art ~or preparing the lower DS
methyl cellulosics. However, the methylation procedure can be simply repeated and continued until the high DS materials are secured. The progress of the methylation reaction can ~ monitored by periodically sampling the reaction product and determining the degree of methoxylation in the manner more fully disclosed hereinafter.

--.10 ~q~7316~ ~

It is to be understood that ~abric treating compositions containing any of the high DS methyl cellul.ose materials .:
disclosed herein provide excellent oily soil removal finishes compared with most low DS (i.e., DS below about 2) alkyl and ;;~
S ~ydroxya}kyl cellulosics known in the art. For truly superior performance in this regard, the most highly preferred high DS methyl cellulose ethers are those which are character-ized by a gel point in an aqueous solution below about 50C, preferably in a range of from about 25C to about 48C.
While not intending to be limited by theory, it appears that . the high DS methyl cellulosics having gel points below about 50C, and preferably in the recited range, interact witn, and deposit on, fabrics from an aqueous rinse bath in optimal fashion under household conditions. The gel point of the cellulose soil release ethers herein can be determined in the manner disclosed more fully hereinafter.
The highly preferred methyl cellulosics for use herein are characterized by their high DS and gel point as specified ;:
hereinabove, and can be further characterized by a solution viscosity above about 20 centipoise, more preerably above about 40 centipoise (cps). It is to be recogn.ized that the . . solution viscosities of the cellulose ethers herein can vary over an extremely wide range, and are often as high as 70,000 (measured as a 2% wt. solution in water). Typical 2S solution viscosities of the high DS methyl cellulose ethers ran~e from about 90 to about 6g,000, but cellulosics having viscosities falling outside this range are useful herein, provided they have the high DS methyl substitution and.the speci~ied gel points. The viscosity of the preferred 1~73~6~ .

cellulosic derivatives herein can be determined in the mannex set forth in ASTM Standard D-2363, more ful].y described hereinafter.
While any of the high DS cellulose et:hers herein are useful in granular compositions which can be prepared using solid, water-soluble carriers such as sodium sulfate, sodium carbonate, and the like, most fabric treating compositions are marketed as liquids. When such liquid compositions are being prepared, it is preferred to select ethers havlng viscosities ~
in the lower end of the range in order to maintain optimal flow and pouring properties. Accordingly, when formulating liquid fabric treating compositions with the 'cellulosic soil release agents in the manner of the present .
invention, it is preferred to select cellulosics having a solution viscosity (as a 2% wt. aqueous solution) from about 20 ~ps to about 250 cps.
In addition to the foregoing parameters, the most highly preferred high DS methyl cellulosics can be further characterized as having a weight average degree of ~' polymeriæation of greater than about 100, more preferably ro~ about 100 to about'1000, most preferably from about 400 to about 800. The term "weight average degree of polymerization" used herein to de~ine the most highly preferred ;' high DS methyl cellulosics relates to the average number of 25 anhydroglucose units in the cellulose polymer. The weight average degree of polymerization ~DPW~ is related to such physical parameters of the cellulose polymer as solubility, gel point and viscosity~ The DPW of the high DS methyl - 12 _ 1~73~
.;

cellulosics herein can be determined by ~easuring their solubility in ~'Cadoxen"* in the manner fully described in sritish Patent 1,498,520 of DesMarais, cited hereinabove.
~i~h DS methyl cellulose soil release agents of the ~YF~ e~pl~yed ~erein having the most preferrled DPW range can ~:
be prepared using cotton linters or wood-der.ived cellulose ~ee~stock. It is well kno~n that cotton-based ~ellulose material has a DPW greatly in excess of ~ 000. EIowever, the caustic treatment during methylation reduces the DPW due to the action of the caustic on the cellulose polymers.
A~cordingly, cotton is a perfectly acceptable source of cellulose when preparing the high DS materials falling within the preferred DPW ranges cited herein. Wood-deri~ed cellulose is known to be ~omprised of cellulose polymers having a DPW of about 2000, and belowO Accordingly, wood-based cellulose ~an easily be converted to the high DS
methyl materials having the preferred DPW range recited hereinabove without the need for any additional degradation, since sufficient degradation will naturally occur on contact .
with the caustic used in the methylation step.
I~le high DS methyl cellulose ethers employed in the instant compositions are characterized by various parameters : -i~ the manner described immediately below. Spe~ific examples of optimal hi~h DS methyl cellulose soil release agents e~ployed herein are set forth in Table l.
The DS (methyl) of the various cellulosic soil release a~ents employed herein can be determined in the manner set orth in "Methods in Carbohydrate ChemistryC', III, Cellulose, ~. L, Whistler, Ed., Academic Press, New York, 1963, Sect:ion

4~, by I. Croon, at p. 277, et se~.

*Trademark for cadmium ethylene diamine hydroxide complex it is a colorless~ stable cellulose solvent.

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The ~el pointc or ~cloud pointl', of the hi~h DS methyl cellulose ether soil release agents employed herein is determined in the following manner. A 2% ~wt. agueous solution of the cellulose ether being tested is used to determine the gel point. Ten cc. of the 2% solution are placed in a test tube and a ~hermometer is inserted into the solution. The test tube eontaining the ~olution and thermometer is immersed in a beaker of water on a hot plate. The water is heated at a rate of approximately l~C/minute. During this heating, , , the solution of ~ellulo~e ether is stirred with the thermometer. ;
The temperature is raised, slowly, until the soluti~n just ; becomes cloudy (the cellulose ethers exhibit a negative temperature coefficient of solubility). The temperature at which the solution clouds is the gel point of the cellulose ether being tested. ~ -The viscosity of the h~gh DS methyl cellulose ethers is determined on the basis of a 2% wt. aqueous solution in the manner disclosed in ASTM Standard D-2363 fox the determination of the apparent viscosity of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose.
Following the ASTM procedure, a 20~ a~ueous solution of the high DS methyl cellulose ether is determined in an Ubbelohde tube viscometer. The 2% solution is based on a dry mass of the product, i.e., the corrected mass for moisture found in the sample.
The DPW ~f the high DS methyl cellulose ethers can be experimentally determined in ~Cadoxen~*, which i5 a standard ~olvent for both substituted and unsubstituted ~ellulosics.
In general terms, the Pfflux time of a soluti~n of a cellulosic derivative in 1:1 "Cadoxen"*:water is measured in a Cannon~

Ubbelohde dilution viscometer. The solution is diluted with *Trademark 1; 14 ~
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additional solvent and the efflux time is again measur~d.
~he dilution step is repeated twice moxeO and the ~f~lux t~mes are again measured. The effl~x tLme of the ~olvent i3 also determined in the same viscometer. From these data~ the relative efflux time (or relative viscosity) ) the ~peci~ic viscosity, and then the reduced v:iscosity are ~al~ulated~ The reduced viscosi~y is plotted on linear graph paper vs. concentration of cellulo~e derivative ill g/dl. A line is drawn through the points and extrapolated to zero concentration. The zero concentration intercept is defined as the intrinsic viscosity. The weight-average degree of pol~merization, DPW, can then be cal~ulated by the Henley relationship as reported by W. J. Brown, TAPPI, 49J 367 (1966). Complete details of the procedure are set forth in British Patent 1,498,520, previously referred to.
~ ypical examples of high DS methyl cellulose soil r~lease agents of the type employed herein are set ~orth in Table 1. It is to be understood that these cellulosics are prepared by exhaustively methylating cellulose in caustic in the manner well-known in the art, and that this methylation procedure forms no part of the present invention.
The cellulosics having relatively low viscosities (examples D and H) can be prepared by simply steeping the cellulose i~ the caustic bath to degrade the anhydroglucose ~'backbone"
of the cellulose, in well-known fashion.

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The following examples illustrate the fa~ric treating compositions of the pr~ent invention, but are not intended . to be limiting thereof. As will be seen frDm the examples, the preferred compositions herein comprise from about 3%

5 to about 15% by weight of a fabric softener/anti-static agent of the type disclosed hereinabove and at least about 0.05%, pre~erably from about U~05% to about 10%, moxe pre~erably from about 0.25% to about 2.~%, by weight of the methyl cellulose ether. ~igher concentrations of the components can be used, according to the desires of the ~ormulator.
The compositions herein can be formulated as solids or liquids. When solid c~mpositions are desired, a water-~oluble, solid carrier material is conveniently used in combination with the active ingredients. Such carriers can ~e, for example, any of the water-soluble organic or inorganic salts commonly used as detergency builders, e.g., - sodium citrate, sodium phosphate, sodium carb~nate, and the like. Exhaustive listings of such materials are fourld in standard textbooks and in the patent litexature, see, for example U.S. Patent 3,526,592 of Oscar T. Qulmby, granted September 1, 1970. A11 such mate-rials are compatible in the present compositions and are ~afe for use in contact with fabrics. Solid compositions 25 are easily prepared by simply dry-blending the active ingredients with the solid caxrier.
Li~uid compositions can be prepared by mixing the softener and soil release cellulosic in a liquid carrier, 9.g . ~ water, m;xtures of lower alcohols such as ethanol or ,~, , , ., , ,,~ ~

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_ isopropanol and water, and the like. When preparing liquid compositions, it is convenient to use the lower ~iscosity methyl cellulosics to maintain pourability, ~he compositions herein can contain minor amounts 5 (e~5~ 0~1% to 5% ~y wt~) of additives such as perfumes, dyes, optical bleaches, and the like to prc~vide the ; corresponding aesthetic and performance benefits.

EX~MP~E_I
A liquid composition which softens and imparts a 10 ~ soil release finish to fabrics is a~ follows:

nqredient Wei~ht %
Ditallowalkyl dimethyl -ammonium chloride 7.5 - ;
Cellulose ether D* l~S
Isopropyl alcohol 3.5 Perfume, dye and minors 1.0 Water Balance * Cellulose ether D from Table 1.

The composition of Example I is prepared by simply admixing the ingredients in the proportions shown until a homogeneous mixture is secured. The resulting composition has a viscosity ca. 150 cps, and is easily poured.
A 5 lb. load of mixed polyester and polyester/cotton blend fabrics is laundered with a commercial anionic detergent composition and spray-rinsed. The fa~rics are ~73~60 thereafter immersed in ca. 8 gallons of ~resh, 90~F water in the deep rinse cycle of a standard automatic washing machine~ 2.0 Ounces of the composition of Example I are poured into the water, which is agitated to evenly distribute the compos~tion. The fabrics are agitated gently for ca. 2 minutes, after which the watex is dr;ained from the washer drumO The fabrics are thereafter spun dry, and dried in a standard automatic clothes dryer.
Fabrics treated in the foregoing manner are soft to the touch and are substantially free from static cling.
Fabrics treated in the foregoing manner are spotted with dirty motor oil, which is allowed to "set" under ambient conditions. The fabrics are thereafter laundered in a commercial, fully built, anionic detergent ~omposition under standard household laundering conditions, rinsed and ~ried. As a control, untreated fabrics and fabxics treated with a low (ca. 1.5-1.7 avg.) degree of methyl substitution are similarly treated and laundered. The compositions herein provide substantially superior release of the dirty motor oil over untreated fabrics and fabrics treated using the low DS methyl substituted soil release agents.
In the foregoing composition soil release ether D from Table 1 is replaced by an equivalent amount of soil release ether H from Table 1 and equivalent results are secured.
In the foregoing composition, the ditallowalkyl-dimethylammonium chloride is replaced by an equivalent ..

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amount of ditallowalkyldimethylammonium bromide, di~allow-alkyldimethylammonium iodide, ditallowalky:Ldimethylammonium fluoride, ditallowalkyldimethylammo~ium hydroxide, and ditallowalkyldimethylammonium meth~lsulfate, respectively, and equivalent results are secured~ ~-In the foregoing composition the i~;opropyl alcohol is ~eplaced by an e~uivalent amount of methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, n-propyl alcohol and n-butyl alcohol, respectively, and equivalent results are secured.

EXPMPLE II
A solid composition which softens and provides a soil release finish to fabrics is as follows:

Inqredient Wei ~t ~

Ditallowalkyldimethyl-ammonium chlorids 7.5 Cellulose ether A* 1. 5 Perfume, dye and minors1.0 Sodium carbonate Balance * Cellulose ether A from Table 1.

.
The composition of Example II is prepared by simply blending the ingredients in the proportions shown until a ho~ogeneous mixture is secured. The resulting composition is in powder form, and is easily pourable.

Following the procedure set forth hereinabove for Example I, a 5 lb. load of mixed polyester and polyester/
cotton blend fabrics are laundered and spray-rinsed. The - 2~ -.. .. . . . . .

1~73~6~ `

fa~rics are thereafter immersed in ca. 8 gallons of ~re~h, 90F water in the deep rinse cycle of a standard automatic washing machine having 100 grams of the composition of Example II dissolved therein. The fabrics are agitated gently for ca. 5 minutes, after which the water is drained from the washer drum. The ~abrics are thereafter spun dry and dried in a standard automatic clothes dryer.
~he fabrics treated in the oregoing manner have 1~ a soft, desirable, anti-static hand. The fabrics treated in the manner of Example II and thereafter stained with hydrocarbon and vegetable oils exhibit a substantial soil release effect when subse~uently laundered with a commercial, anionic detergent composition.
The composition of Example II is modified by replacing the ditallowalkyldimethylammonium chloride with an equivalent amount of dicoconutalkyldimethylammonium chloride, dicoconut-alkyldimethylammonium methylsulfate, stearyldimethyl-ammonium chloride, distearyldiethylammonium chloride, ditallowalkyldipropylammonium bromide, and cetyl pyridinium ch~oride, respectively, and equivalent results are secured.
The composition of Example II is modified by replacing cellulose ether A, from Table 1, with an equivalent amount o e~hers B, C, D, E, F~ ~ and H, from Table 1, respectively, and equivalent results are secured.

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The foregoing co~positions give good softening and superior so~l release performance on fabrics treated therewith4 It will be recogni~ed that the compositions can readily be formulated to contain various adjunct ~aterials, in addition to the a~ti~e and ~he earrier~
~ore particularly, various surfactants, used in non-~eterging ~mounts (i.e., 0.05%-1~/o wto~ ~ can be employed in the compositions to he}p disperse them throughout the rinse bath.
Nonio~ic surfactants, especially the ethoxylated alcohols and ethoxylated phenols characterized by a hydrophilic lipophilic balance (~B) in the range from about 7 to about 15, and mixtures of such materials, are preferred fo:r this use. ~xemplary nonionic surfactants or this purpose include the tri-, penta-, hepta- and nona-ethoxylated primary and secondary alcohols marketed under various trademarleS~e.g., "Tergitol 15-S-7", "Tergitol 15-S-3", "Tergitol 15-S-9", and the "Dobanols". -:
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Claims (10)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A fabric treating composition comprising:
a. from about 1 to about 50% by weight of a combined fabric softening and anti-static agent;
b. from about 0.05 to about 10% by weight of a methyl cellulose ether having a DS methyl of at least about 2.1, a weight average degree of polymerization of greater than 100, a solution viscosity above about 20 centipoise and a gel point less than about 50°C; and c. the balance of the composition comprising a water-dispersible carrier.

2. A composition according to Claim 1 wherein the fabric softening and anti-static agent is selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium salts containing at least one C10-C20 fatty alkyl substituent group; alkyl imidazolinium salts wherein at least one alkyl group contains a C8-C25 carbon chain; and C12-C20 alkyl pyridinium salts.

3. A composition according to Claim 2 wherein the quaternary ammonium salt is of the formula R1R2R3R4N+,X-, wherein R1 and R2 are each C12-C20 fatty alkyl groups, or mixtures thereof, and R3 and R4 are each C1-C3 alkyl groups, or mixtures thereof, and wherein X is an anion.

4. A composition according to Claim 3 wherein the quaternary ammonium salt is selected from ditallowalkyl-dimethylammonium chloride and dicoconutalkyldimethylammonium chloride.

5. A composition according to Claim 1 wherein the methyl cellulose ether has a DS methyl of from about 2.1 to about 2.8.

6. A composition according to Claim 5 wherein the DS methyl is 2.2 to 2.7.

7. A composition according to Claim 1 comprising a quaternary ammonium salt selected from ditallowalkyl-dimethylammonium chloride and dicoconutalkyldimethylammonium chloride and a methyl cellulose ether characterized by a DS
methyl from about 2.3 to about 2.6.

8. A composition according to Claim 7 comprising from about 3% to about 15% by weight of the quaternary ammonium salt, from about 0.25% to about 2.0% by weight of the methyl cellulose ether, characterized by a viscosity in the range from about 20 cps to about 250 cps, the balance of the composition comprising a liquid carrier selected from water and mixtuxes of water and lower alcohols.

9. A composition according to Claim 8 comprising, as an additional component, a non-deterging amount of a nonionic surfactant, or mixtures thereof.

10. A composition according to Claim 9 wherein the surfactant is selected from ethoxylated alcohols and ethoxylated phenols characterized by an HLB in the range of about 7 to about 15, or mixtures thereof.